jbtaz36 wrote:

Staying away from here is the hardest task yet. I have limited my usual reading. I read to children everyday......I still did that because I think it is important to read to them everyday.

My TAW book came today! Yeah! I have read the intros and Chapter 1. I will start my morning pages tomorrow. I made some notes to myself about it this afternoon. This is really exciting to me and I'm not sure why. Much of this is very familiar to me from other recovery work, yet this looks at it all from a different perspective and with a different focus--removing my creative blocks and nurturing my inner creative self. It never hurts to do these kind of exercises again and again over the years. It is amazing how some of those old, negative messages seem to sneak back in take root again--especially when doing something new and risky.
I know how hard it is for me to put my quilts in the judged competition of a quilt show. It's the old negative sewing judges/censors from my 4-H days and the county fair. I know that was then and this is now, but emotionally, I guess I don't, because all the old fears come up. I pushed myself to enter my quilts for judging this last Jan. in the Tucson Quilt Fiesta and received a first and third in the wallhanging division! I was so thrilled, excited and amazed!

I'm going to be working along in TAW, just like you, Linda. Is anyone just starting?

Judy, I'm in CO now for July and Aug; but, I live in Green Valley, AZ. How long does it take you to get to Tucson? Are you getting rain there? Hope so. Stay cool! Mary Anne

I knew you girls couldn't last, Judy in AZ

Hi,

I guess most of you are not reading this week, since there are so few posts online. Thanks to those who have been posting. I so enjoyed Show 302 this week! I caught Alex's reference to a TAW seminar (?) and wondered where she went. Does anyone know? I am still waiting for my book. I finished up a quilt top yesterday which is full of dotty fabric, circles and curved lines. Not sure what else I'll do with it or how I'll quilt it yet. Think I'll get some ideas at Ricky's Retreat next week? Mary Anne

I'm still plodding along behind you all and I've had a good week with recovering a sense of identity. I will confess that I was rather surprised with what I found out this week, but glad to learn what I need to focus on now. I've taken a few steps in recognizing and putting in place one of my crazymakers (good for me) and I'm feeling good about where I'm headed.
I have missed two mornings writing when I first wake up....but have done them later in the day and have now attached a sticky note on my monitor to help remind me how important they are.

My artist date this week was a trip to our local Alco to buy Crayola crayons. Yes I did say crayons. I've signed up for an online class at MQResource about Color Theory and our first assignment is about using crayons to make a color wheel. What fun I had!!!

Today I'm starting Week #3 and am excited when I think of what's ahead for me.
Have a HAPPY day everyone..
Linda

Margo, I too heard Alex mention the TAW retreat, interesting. It isn't hard not to read except here, I cut way back on my reading and I too got lots more accomplished around the house. Is that a good thing? I am not sure. I realize I use this and other internet exploring as a release from daily stress, but other wise I would be eating it away. How does everyone else relieve daily stress?

Whew! I managed to get through one whole day without reading! The only thing I REALLY missed was TQS!!! But...I've gotta admit, I really got a lot more done than I usually do! I started by cleaning out drawers and taking a load to Goodwill! (Thanks Sandy for the inspiration to clean out the bedroom!) Then I got a quilt mounted on the long arm and started that project and in the evening I sat and folded fabric instead of reading! It was a good day, and I feel more energized to try some new techniques in the sewing room! ITS A NEW DAY! One day at a time!

Thanks to everyone who so warmly welcomed me the other day. I have ordered the TAW book from Amazon and am eagerly awaiting it. In the meantime, I checked at the library in this little town we are vacationing in to see if they had it. They did not; but, then I asked for "Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain" by Betty Edwards 1979. They had it so I have been doing the art exercises in it until the TAW arrives. It is very interesting to me that I am now seeking out all this art help/inspiration. My father found Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain when it was new and was so thrilled with it and kept trying to get me to read it! I was not interested then. Now I find it very intriguing. I guess it is true, that when the student is ready....... I just wasn't ready. My life was too busy then with a new marriage, 4 teenages between us and working full time. I went down the mountain to another town to WM tonight and bought a spiral notebook to start my journaling tomorrow. I used to do journaling many years ago as part of therapy exercises and have gotten away from it. I always found it very helpful then. It just might help clear out some of the clutter in my head now, too! I agree with the others who said it is good to be on the other side of depression. It's looking like I've done my daily journaling here! This forum thread is so inspiring. Thanks everyone! Mary Anne

I didn’t catch Alex’s reference to TAW but I was watching during lunch at work and had the sound turned down. I thought both Ricky and Alex quilts were different from what we associate with them. I loved both quilts.

I read Chapter 4 yesterday I really related to the turning loose of the old to make room for the new. While getting my bedroom ready to paint last Friday and Saturday, I had to pack up 4 bookcases. I don’t know how many boxes I filled with books, whatnots, pictures, etc. Probably 90% of what I packed I no longer need or want. I’m am turning loose of the clutter in my life. I started decluttering before TAW and that may be what lead me to TAW in the first place. I have never done anything like this before.

I love traditional quilts but I am drawn to a lot of the new techniques I am seeing on TQS. I can’t wait to see where the journey is going to take me. I don’t draw at all but I actually started a sketch book where I am recording ideas and stick drawing.

OK...I've read the chapter for week 4. I've done the tasks or made notes to get them done this week and I've made some decisions about the reading deprivation.
Even though I had planned to work on my digitizing class this week, I will put that off because it involves a hefty manual to read.
I can do without the newspaper, and my nighttime novel before bed. I can ignore the stack of books and magazines beside my chair for a week and I can leave the quilting books on the shelf for a week.
I will try to get through this whole week by only checking e-mail and the TQS site ONLY ONE TIME A DAY!
Because TQS is my only social outlet, I'm taking some leaway here!
So....until tomorrow....I'm outta here....

I have a question.....does the no reading mean here too? I think I can go with out reading everywhere but here. Is that cheating?

Ditto on that one too, Margo!!! It is wonderful to be FREE.

Jan in Spokane, who is cutting back on SOME reading

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject: The Artist's Way

---

This is too good not to share.
During week 3 I had an experience that really got my attention. Five different times I was thinking about a different concern and thinking that I would like to talk with (a specific friend or relative). Three of those times, within a few minutes of my thoughts, I received a phone call from the very person with whom I wanted to talk! Two of those times I received emails from the two friends from whom I wanted to hear. When I got to the Check-In and read #3 I had to laugh. I wrote an especially long entry in my notebook because I want to what God did for me during this week.

Last night I read Week 4 and had another laugh. God is working again. I have to spend the week with my mother which means no computer and very little reading time. I spend hours a day reading at the computer. I don't think that it will be a hardship after all.

Did anyone else catch the comment that Alex made in yesterday's episode (302) about having gone to a retreat for TAW? I wonder if that has had some impact on the way her quilting style is changing? I love the new stuff she is doing, and am beginning to think that maybe I can break out of the traditional rut a little, too!

I skipped Morning Pages on Thursday and Friday, but tried to make up for it with a really long one on Saturday! My artist's date was the class to learn digitizing and I'm excited about the possibilities that has opened up for me.

I am so blessed to be in a place in my life right now where I am really not bogged down with anger and/or depression. Been there done that, and it's a hell that I hope I never have to go through again. For those of you dealing with it now, you have my sincerest sympathy. I hope you get through it soon, because the life on the other side is ever so much more gratifing.

As for reading deprivation this week....I don't know if I can do that! :shock: